Multimedia Players

Most current video multimedia players play many video formats (as well as audio), including the Flash video .flv format.

VLC Multimedia Player

VLC is a cross-platform multimedia player that supports many formats without need for additional codecs. It can not only receive video streams (also see here to convert it to mp4), but can act as a server for video streams, as well. It is one of the only players that can view and backup almost any DVD format, no matter which copy protection is used. See these tips for using VLC to backup/rip encrypted DVDs.

sudo apt-get install vlc vlc-plugin-pulse

Troubleshooting tip: On some hardware (such as the Acer Aspire One), the video is blank or VLC freezes when trying to play a file or disc. To solve this problem, select "X11 video output":

Dump a video stream to disc

You can dump a video stream to disc using Mplayer:

mplayer -dumpstream streamurl

If you don't know the exact URL of the stream you wish to save, you can discover it from the webpage it is embedded in by using the Firefox add-on UnPlug. Do not save streams that are illegal to download.

Dragonplayer

Dragonplayer is the default KDE media player included in Kubuntu. It does not have as many options or play as many formats as other video players, but is integrated into the KDE framework.

Kaffeine Video Player

Kaffeine is a video player for Kubuntu/KDE. It does not play as many formats as other video players. Install:

sudo apt-get install kaffeine

Xine-UI Multimedia Player

Xine UI is a multimedia player based, of course, on the xine platform. It can also play streamed video from the Internet and supports most formats, including some uncommon ones.

sudo apt-get install xine-ui

RealPlayer 11 Multimedia Player

The Linux Realplayer is actually based on the open-source Helix player. Helix itself can be installed as a package easily (read Helix plug-in) and used instead of Realplayer. These instructions are to install the proprietary version of RealPlayer only.

Open a terminal and cd to the directory you have downloaded realplayer's .bin file. Then issue the following commands

chmod +x RealPlayer11GOLD.bin
sudo ./RealPlayer11GOLD.bin

When it asks for installation path enter /usr/local/RealPlayer

For all other questions just choose default by pressing enter.

If you have installed mozilla-mplayer package you will need to delete the mplayer firefox plugin for real player videos. Other wise all real player files will open with mplayer. For that please do this

cd /usr/lib/firefox/plugins
sudo rm mplayerplug-in-rm.*

Please remember to restart firefox and when ever you click on a real player video choose the option open with and use /usr/bin/realplay

Internet TV

Myth TV

Miro Player

Miro Player (formerly Democracy TV Player) is an open-source Internet TV and video player that allows you to watch Internet TV and videos. Unlike other video players, it contains a structured guide that includes more than 2500 channels, has built-in BitTorrent, and has features that can automatically save videos, such as from YouTube.

sudo apt-get install miro

Sopcast Internet TV

Sopcast is an interface to play live P2P video streams through the VLC media player. Install VLC first. This is a Chinese program and most content is hosted in China and may not be legal in your area. Please consult local regulations.

Zattoo

Zattoo is a free Internet TV player that allows you to watch terrestrial television from various countries in Europe. See the Zattoo Download page for further instructions on installation. For screenshots and an alternate installation guide, see this UbuntuGeek guide.

ABC iView

BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer provides replays and downloads of BBC programs to UK residents. The BBC, however, has crippled its streams to prevent downloading and legal actions against iPlayer appear to be in progress. (Flvstreamer may be required for rtmp stream recording). To install a Flash 64-bit edition of iPlayer:

get_iplayer (BBC program recording)

get_iplayer allows BBC streams (through their iplayer service) for UK users, as well as Hulu streams for US users, to be recorded to mp4, wav, and mp3 files (depending on content). See here for usage instructions. Install (may not work for all users):

sudo apt-get install get-iplayer

See the website for usage or:

man get-iplayer

Get a current listing of what's available and save it in the home directory

get-iplayer >~/iplayer-listing.txt

Having found some interesting programmes (and noted the numbers found in the left-hand column), download them:

The package installs the Microsoft core fonts (ttf-mscorefonts-installer). During this part of the installation a prompt to accept the Microsoft EULA will appear. Use the "TAB" key to maneuver to the "Ok" button and then press "Enter" to accept. The installation should then continue to completion.

The package creates a menu item for the Netflix Destop, or the app can be started from a terminal with the command:

netflix-desktop

The Netflix app starts in full screen mode. You can exit out of the app completely by pressing ALT+F4 or by using the pop-up "X." You can also press F11 to exit out of full screen mode.

Netflix Android App

A Netflix app for the Android market is available here. It must be installed in an Android environment but is not fully functional in the current Android emulators.

Internet Radio

Internet radio streams through different ports, so check your firewall if you are not able to play the streams.

Last FM

LastFM is a service for sharing music recommendations and individual radio streams. It is included as an option in Amarok, or can be installed separately:

sudo apt-get install lastfm

Shoutcast Internet Radio

Shoutcast is the first and last free mp3 streaming service. Hundreds of radio streams can be played through Amarok, Audacious, or other multimedia player. Simply associate the .pls streams with your favourite player (Audacious or QMMP recommended). Of course, Shoutcast can also be played through Amarok.

StreamTuner Stream Directory Browser

StreamTuner lists streams available on the Internet through a GTK-based interface. It lists Shoutcast and Live365 streams, among others. Install:

Streamripper is also available within the music player Amarok using the RecordStream plug-in.

RadioTray

RadioTray is an app that, once started, docks in the System Tray and allows easy selection from a list of online .pls streams (listed by radio station genre). Additional .pls streams and genres can be easily added to the pre-configured list. Install:

sudo apt-get install radiotray

Pithos (Pandora client)

Spotify

Spotify is a music streaming service that bases streams on user tastes and interests. Download the Spotify client .deb package for your system (i386 version for 32-bit systems or amd64 version for 64-bit systems) and either the Qt version or Gnome front-end from this location then click on the two packages to automatically install them. For example, to install the 64-bit version with the Qt front-end:

or add the ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports repository using Muon Package Manager and install the plasma-mediacenter package through Muon.

MythTV

MythTV is a media center with PVR (personal video recorder) for retrieving, recording, and playing broadcast and Internet TV and other multimedia content. It has many options and plugins for expansion. To be useful, you will need a compatible TV tuner card. For setup tips, see this guide. Install:

sudo apt-get install mythtv

Mythbuntu

Mythbuntu is an integrated Ubuntu (Xubuntu) desktop optimised for MythTV usage. In can be used instead of adding MythTV to a (K)Ubuntu desktop.

XBMC

XBMC is a free, mature, open-source cross-platform media center. It does not have a PVR capability nor as many functions as MythTV, but has a very nice interface. Install:

sudo apt-get install xbmc

Boxee

Boxee is an XBMC-like open source package to allow streaming video over the Internet, including from YouTube and other sites. It is a fork of XBMC, and is still in alpha development and testing stage. It is currently available for 32-bit systems only, and recommended for Hardy. A current version is anticipated soon. (Note: Boxee does not run Netflix on Linux, despite their ads). See these download instructions.

Elisa

Elisa is a cross-platform media center that uses the Gstreamer multimedia framework. Commercial plugins are available from Fluendo. It supports PVR and Music Jukebox . Install:

LiquidSoap (sudo apt-get install liquidsoap liguidsoap) is an OCAML and Python-based scripting language and GTK-based GUI for building complex audio-streaming systems (with many plug-ins available) for use with an Icecast (or other streaming) server

CRTMPServer

CRTMPServer (aka Rtmpd) is a free (GPLv3-licensed) server that can stream Flash and many other media types using rtmp streaming. Install:

sudo apt-get install crtmpserver

Red5 Media Server

The Red5 Media Server is a Java-based media streaming server and recorder that uses rtmp and AMF protocols to stream (and/or receive) flash video and other content. Install:

sudo apt-get install red5-server

FLVStreamer

Flvstreamer is an open source command-line RTMP client to stream audio or video content from all types of flash or rtmp servers. It is a fork from rtmpdump with encrypted rtmp and swf verification support removed. Install:

sudo apt-get install flvstreamer

rtmpdump (Capture streaming video)

Rtmpdump allows the capture of many types of streaming video. Install:

sudo apt-get install rtmpdump

Streamcapture with VLC

VLC allows the capture of certain types of streaming content. See the VLC instructions. You can also "Convert" streams to selected video file formats.

VLC -> Media -> Stream... -> Network -> Please enter a network URL:

If you don't know the exact URL of the stream you wish to save, you can discover it from the webpage it is embedded in by using the Firefox add-on UnPlug. Do not save streams that are illegal to download.